BUCKNACKT'S SORDID TAWDRY BLOG
We should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive & well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate, bier or wein in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO-HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!!!!"

NORTON META TAG

15 June 2017

ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING in America, this one followed by a disgruntled UPS employee in San Francisco shooting fellow employees, killing 3. And who knows how many others were killed by gunfire across the country on Wednesday? The attack on the republican baseball team is disgusting and disturbing, and I hope and pray all the injured recover and for the families of those killed by gun violence, but it is no more heinous than the San Francisco shooting or any other death or wounding by gunfire. I don't think it is out of line to ask some of these congresspeople 'How's that NRA approval rating working out for ya now?'

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana has undergone surgery and will need further operations, after being shot by a man who opened fire with a rifle on an early morning baseball practice for Republican members of Congress in Alexandria, Va. Scalise was the most seriously injured of four victims of the shootings.

The suspect was fatally wounded during a gun battle with law enforcement, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer who had been shot.

"Congressman Steve Scalise sustained a single rifle shot to the left hip. The bullet travelled across his pelvis, fracturing bones, injuring internal organs, and causing severe bleeding. He was transported in shock to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a Level I Trauma Center. He underwent immediate surgery, and an additional procedure to stop bleeding. He has received multiple units of blood transfusion. His condition is critical, and he will require additional operations. We will provide periodic updates."

President Trump and Melania Trump visited the hospital Wednesday evening, bringing bouquets of flowers. Trump later tweeted: "Just left hospital. Rep. Steve Scalise, one of the truly great people, is in very tough shape - but he is a real fighter. Pray for Steve!"

White House press secretary Sean Spicer says the Trumps met with Scalise's wife Jennifer at the congressman's bedside, and with his doctors. He says they also visited wounded U.S. Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner and her wife. The Trumps gave flowers to both families.

In an evening press conference, FBI Special Agent Tim Slater said investigators believe the shooting suspect had been living out of his van and had been in the area since March.

Slater identified the him as James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill. Hodgkinson, 66, was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting and transported to a hospital "where he succumbed to his injuries."

The FBI said it was not currently looking for other suspects, though Slater cautioned that he does not know where the investigation will lead. "We hope to answer motive, and why he was here, and why he did what he did," said Slater.

FBI agents are searching Hodgkinson's home in Illinois, he said. The suspect's vehicle was located on site and was swept by the Alexandria Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"Obviously we are looking to glean what we can from the contents of his [electronic] devices," said Slater. He said that they also hoped to learn where the suspect's handgun and rifle had come from, and who had purchased them.

Those hit with gunfire in the incident Wednesday morning were: Scalise, Griner, congressional staffer Zachary Barth, Tyson Foods lobbyist Matt Mika, and the gunman. Rep. Roger Williams of Texas and Special Agent David Bailey of the U.S. Capitol Police sustained minor secondary injuries.

Griner was shot in the ankle, and is in good condition in the hospital, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.

Capitol Police officers are being widely praised for helping to stop the attack.

"Many lives would have been lost if not for the heroic actions of the two Capitol Police officers, who took down the gunman despite sustaining gunshot wounds during a very, very brutal assault," President Trump said shortly before noon.

The shooting occurred around 7 a.m. ET in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., about 8 miles from Capitol Hill. A helicopter arrived to medevac at least one victim.

The FBI has taken over the investigation because the attack involved violence against a federal official.

The FBI is "exploring all angles" in the case, Slater said, responding to a question about whether the attack was an act of terrorism.

In the wake of the shooting, the House of Representatives canceled legislative business for the day, and security was increased around the White House. A public event that had been scheduled by Trump at the Labor Department on Wednesday afternoon was canceled.

'We Dove For The Dugout': Witness Accounts

"Prior to entering surgery, the Whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone," Scalise's office said in a statement. "He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues."

The shooter opened fire at a baseball field at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, across the parking lot from Alexandria's YMCA. Gunshots hit the YMCA's windows, and the building was shut down and the block cordoned off, NPR's Tom Bowman reported from the scene.

After receiving a call of shots fired at 7:09 a.m., officers arrived within three minutes, Alexandria Police Chief Mike Brown said. By 7:14 a.m., the FBI says "the subject was engaged by law enforcement and shot." At least two officers fired at the gunman, Brown added.

Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, who was at the practice, told CNN that the gunman was holding what he described as a semi-automatic rifle in the area behind third base and that Scalise had been near second base. Brooks told CNN that he tried to help Scalise, saying, "We used my belt to help put a tourniquet around his leg."

Two Capitol Police officers showed "incredible bravery," Brooks said, describing how they used their pistols to engage in a gun battle with a man armed with a rifle, from a distance of 90 to 120 feet.

Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico, who was at the practice but unharmed, tweeted prayers for the victims.

A local resident who posted a video of the scene after the shooting said, "There were probably about 80 to 100 shots fired over there."

That resident, Benjamin Childers, added, "We had three members of Congress [who] took shelter in our apartment."

Trump had issued a statement earlier:

"The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected."

The shooting occurred the day before the Republican team is scheduled to play in the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park. Pitting members of one party against another, the contest supports charities ranging from the Boys and Girls Clubs to the Washington Literacy Center.

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California said on Twitter that Thursday's game is still on.

Members of the Democratic Party's team were practicing elsewhere Wednesday morning; after the attack, they tweeted a photo of themselves taking a moment to think of their colleagues.

The violence disrupted what had been a quiet start to the day in Del Ray, hitting an area where many residents go to work out in the mornings and grab a coffee from a shop around the corner from the YMCA.

As NPR's Jessica Taylor reports from the neighborhood: "This is people going about their normal mornings, probably not even knowing that there were members of Congress that were practicing a few blocks down the road here. And it just went from really sort of a calm, peaceful morning to utter chaos in here."

This is a developing story. Some things that get reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from police officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.

10 June 2017

THIS is America and people have the right to express their opinions non-violently. THERE is absolutely no justification for the radical left to disrupt these marches with confrontation and violence. People on the left who claim to love our Republic and the civil liberties guaranteed by the American constitution and oppose the message of these marches should stay away from them, there should not be any attempt to stop them. We can not lower ourselves to the levels of the organizers of these marches, if we do then we become as hypocritical as the march organizers and participants. It is galling these marches are being portrayed as being in defense of women. These same people voted for and support the candidates, now (NOT MY) president and (NOT MY) vice-president who feel it is OK to approach a woman and 'grab her by her pussy' and to 'just go up to a woman and start kissing her'. These same people who are against islamic sharia support the christian sharia the American political right is trying to impose on us. "ACT for America organizers say an adherence to Sharia among Muslims leads to abuses against women, from discrimination to honor killings." Discrimination against women? How about making equal pay the law so women are paid the same as men for doing the same work. Discrimination against women? How about stopping legislation that limits women making their own decisions about reproduction while not legislating limits on men's access to ED medication? Abuses and discrimination against women (and their families) includes cuts to social safety net programs that would allow women to feed, house, educate and obtain the healthcare they and their children need. Abuses against women? Why isn't the Violence Against Women Act permanent law, why does it have to be reauthorized? This map shows where the republicans who voted against reauthorizing the VAWA are from, areas of the country where women are being legislated back into the 1920's. House vote on Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013

Democratic aye

Republican aye

Abstention or no representative seated

Republican no

So don't try to deceive us into believing these marches are in defense of women because they are not. These marches are supporting and promoting racism, bigotry, hate, xenophobia, fascism.

Saturday's nationwide "March Against Sharia," sponsored by a group known for aggressively criticizing Islam, has in recent days become a rallying cause for right-wing extremists, forcing march organizers to repudiate some of their own supporters and prompting concern about clashes with militant leftists.

The marches, due to be held in at least 19 states, are being coordinated by ACT for America, a conservative grass-roots organization that calls itself "the NRA of national security." The group has a long history of opposing Sharia, which is a legal or philosophical code derived from Islamic scripture and meant to guide the behavior of observant Muslims.

ACT for America organizers say an adherence to Sharia among Muslims leads to abuses against women, from discrimination to honor killings.

The national coordinator of the marches, Scott Presler, is a 29-year-old Republican operative who says he, as a gay man, was first motivated to fight Muslim extremism after the deadly Orlando, Fla., shooting last June.

The target in Orlando was a gay nightclub, and the perpetrator allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS. To Presler, it highlighted a problem of anti-gay bigotry in orthodox Islam.

"This was born on the Internet, from me sending out a Twitter post saying, 'Hey, I would love to do a rally, who wants to help?' " Presler told NPR. The query, he said, prompted responses from conservative activists across the country. "My email has just been pummeled with activity."

Among those who answered Presler's call is Denise Zamora. She offered to organize a march in San Bernardino, Calif., at the site of the 2015 mass shooting carried out by a Pakistani-American and his wife.

"I wasn't even familiar with anything about Sharia law," she told NPR. "I didn't know much about radical Muslims or jihad. I wasn't educated. So I started learning about everything, and when ACT for America announced they were going to do a nationwide march, I quickly volunteered."

Zamora, whose political activism began with her involvement in the Trump presidential campaign, says the San Bernardino rally, like others across the country, will highlight the problem of female genital mutilation. The practice is common in some conservative Muslim societies, but many Islamic scholars insist it is not mandated under Sharia.

Presler hopes the marches will attract broad participation. "These are things that all women should support," he said.

The movement, however, appears to be in danger of veering in an extremist direction. ACT for America has a militant attitude toward Islam, and comments on Facebook suggest the marches are attracting many far-right sympathizers, including several who decorate their posts with Confederate flags.

In Arkansas, a march was organized by Billy Roper, an avowed white supremacist.

"We want to send a message to Muslims that they are not welcome in our communities," Roper said in a podcast on Wednesday. "We want to send a message to Muslims that they're not welcome in our state. And ultimately we want to send a message to Muslims that they're not welcome in our nation and, of course, endgame, on our planet."

Roper specifically encouraged "white nationalists" to attend the marches and noted they could bring weapons to those rallies where "open carry" gun laws are in effect.

Such extremism has alarmed the ACT for America leadership. After his podcast, the group severed ties with Roper and put out a statement that the Arkansas march was canceled "when we became aware that the organizer is associated with white supremacist groups. This is against all of our values."

Roper's wife, however, posted screenshots of prior emailsbetween Presler and Roper, including one showing Presler telling Roper, "You are approved and ready to go." Asked about that communication, Presler said only that the Arkansas march was canceled "as soon as the information revealed itself."

Militant "anti-fascist" or "antifa" groups, however, have promised to show up at anti-Sharia rallies to confront the marchers, and right-wing paramilitary groups such as the Three Percenters, Proud Boys and Oath Keepers were arranging to provide security at the rallies, setting the stage for violent confrontations.

Those organizations have previously clashed with "antifa" groups in Berkeley, Calif., and Portland, Ore., though Oath Keepers President Stewart Rhodes told NPR that his members only engage the counterprotesters when the police fail to keep the two sides separated.

"Where the police stand up, we'll stand down," Rhodes said. "But where they stand down, we have to stand up."

Rhodes declined to say which marches will be secured by Oath Keeper volunteers, many of whom have law enforcement or military backgrounds, though they are expected at several locations. "We're encouraging our members to go to each and every one of them," Rhodes said.

The Oath Keepers website says members promise to support the U.S. Constitution "against all enemies, foreign and domestic" and pledge to disobey any order they consider unconstitutional.

The prospect of violent confrontations at the anti-Sharia marches have local law enforcement authorities on edge. In San Bernardino, an "antifa" group has posted signs at the site of the march, urging activists to confront the marchers. A police spokesman says the department will be monitoring both sides for any signs of trouble.